The Cotoneaster leaves offered a wide palette of colours while the Nandina offered its scarlet intensity. The past autumn with its crisp nights, clear sunny and calm days meant a more striking autumn season here in the garden.

I have been fortunate in the past three or more years to hear the beautiful song of the Korimako, New Zealand Bellbird. Eventually I spotted one in the garden but it was a fleeting view as this fast moving bird was there and gone.

My attempts to photograph a Bellbird have been futile so far. But today our lovely visiting Bellbird ( or perhaps more than one) has been in and around the garden and singing temptingly close by.

With cold winter light offering little assistance I ventured out with my camera to try and locate Korimako feeding in the tree across the road. The zoom on my camera is very good and I was able to gain one photo.

I crossed the road carefully and stood a way off from the tree believing that the bird would be fearful and take flight. However food was a stronger pull and with plenty of foliage to hide safely in I was able to move closer and closer without causing the bird to fly away.

My luck held and I came home with some pleasing photographs and the great sense of achievement gained from ticking a “wanted bird” off the list.

I have included a link to a sound clip of the clear, bell like song of this very special New Zealand native bird.

Tauhou enjoying banana, Blackbird looking to me in the hope of food, Tui singing at full throttle in the afternoon sunshine.

]]>https://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/06/27/birds-in-the-winter-garden/feed/3ordinarygoodLean into the lighthttps://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/lean-into-the-light/
https://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/lean-into-the-light/#respondThu, 18 May 2017 21:51:53 +0000http://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/?p=5407]]>]]>https://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/lean-into-the-light/feed/0ordinarygoodIMG_0291 (800x600)Ornamental bamboo in the gardenhttps://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/ornamental-bamboo-in-the-garden/
https://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/ornamental-bamboo-in-the-garden/#respondWed, 17 May 2017 23:54:04 +0000http://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/?p=5402]]>]]>https://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/ornamental-bamboo-in-the-garden/feed/0ordinarygoodIMG_0290 (800x600)The confused face of autumnhttps://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/the-confused-face-of-autumn/
https://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/the-confused-face-of-autumn/#respondTue, 16 May 2017 23:34:10 +0000http://ordinarygood.wordpress.com/?p=5391]]>Here in the garden it is definitely autumn. The deciduous trees are dropping leaves or are about to begin that process. The blazing Japanese Maple (acer palmatum sango kaku, Carol-bark maple) has all but finished its stunning display and the last leaves are falling.

However next to the tree is Feijoa Bambina which has three poor sized fruit on it, after a stunning flowering period in spring. It mistakenly thinks it is spring with this dramatic single flower appearing and other flower buds showing.